Many ‘rocking’ hikes to be found across region
Oddly enough, I suppose, winter is one of my favorite times to hike.
Trees barren of their leaves stretch and bend, posing for silhouettes at sundown through shining hues of purple, orange and mellow yellow.
Add to that the fact that many state parks and forests are less busy and that is reason enough to head into the woods.
Top on that some really interesting rock structures and, hey, you had me at sunset. Since The Dave Trippin’ crew did our First Day Hike on the spectacular Three Bridges Trail at Carter Caves State Resort Park, I thought it would be cool to share some info on that as well as some other “rocking” hikes in the region where you, through winter’s less cluttered lens, can view some amazing cliffs and rock structures.
Here’s just a few “rocking” places to check sometime soon.
Hocking Hills State Park near Logan, Ohio
OK, if you don’t mind crowds head up through the wilds of southern Ohio (about an hour and a half) north of Huntington to Logan, Ohio, and the famed Hocking Hills State Park
Hocking Hills State Park is located on State Route 664 in Hocking County, about 12 miles southwest of Logan. For further information about the Annual Winter Hike, call the park office at 740-385-6842.
Rock House trail at Lake Vesuvius
Rock House, located at the end of the boat ramp parking lot at Lake Vesuvius (just 9 miles north of Ironton) is a great trail because it’s all accessible and really gets folks back to a spectacular place on a paved trail.
This 0.75-mile trail follows a cliff line with more than 100 species of native plants. For folks wanting to learn about area history, such as the area’s rich iron ore production, there are some cool interpretative stations.
The trail leads back to a spectacular rock outcrop (the rock house).
For more experienced hikers, the eight-mile loop around Lake Vesuvius is lined with small caves and sandstone cliffs just off the trail.
Call 740-534-6500.
Caves and Arches
Check out the great collection of natural bridges nearby by taking the Four C’s Trek, a 7.5-mile loop trail, at Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill, Kentucky.
Only a 45-minute drive from Huntington, Carter Caves is home to nearly 30 miles of trails, including the Four C’s which goes over swinging bridges, has views of Smokey Lake and goes under natural bridges and arches such as Shangra La.
The best bang for your family’s buck is the 3.6-mile Three Bridges Trail, which takes you past three of the park’s natural bridges – Smoky Bridge (the largest), Raven Bridge and Fern Bridge – as well as past scenic overlooks of Smoky Valley Lake and some impressive sandstone cliffs. Access the trail near the entrance of Saltpetre Cave (across the road from the Welcome Center/Gift Shop) or behind the Caveland Lodge. Red blazes mark the trail.
Also, for a short, but spectacular 1.6-mile hike, check out Box Canyon Trail, located at Cascade Cave State Nature Preserve near Carter Caves.
Call 800-325-0059 or 606-286-4411.
Laurel Gorge
Located just south of Grayson Lake off of Ky. 7 in Elliott County, Kentucky, are about three miles of hiking trails at the 750-acre Ed Mabry-Laurel Gorge Wildlife Management Area, which is located on Laurel Curves Road approximately three miles from Sandy Hook, Kentucky
Not unlike the New River Gorge and other parts of our region, Laurel Gorge is blessed with giant thickets of rhododendron which close in on the boardwalk leading back into the Gorge where you’ll find good-sized eastern hemlocks, tulip poplars, big leaf magnolias and towering rock walls.
The mile Cliffline Trail snakes around boulders and crevices below the towering sandstone cliffs that increasingly drip with water onto a platform overlooking what is a waterfall in season, flowing into Jason’s Branch which flows into the Little Sandy River.
Be sure to check out the Laurel Gorge Cultural Heritage Center, which features 28 interactive exhibits on native wildlife, Appalachian life, Native Americans, country music history (Keith Whitley and Don Rigsby) and local artisans (Minnie Adkins, Jimmy Lewis and others).
Hours at the center in the winter are noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed on weekends, and trail hours are dawn to dusk daily. For more information about the Nature Trail, Center and Canoe Launch please call 606-738-5543 or go online at https://www.facebook.com/LaurelGorgeCulturalHeritageCenter/info
Forest Faces
Located on 52 acres, the Huntington Museum of Art, 2033 McCoy Rd., has one amazing, “rocking” attraction over the hill on its Nature Trail system.
A perfect short hike for small children and adults, the trail is a one-of-a-kind since it contains more than half a dozen carvings by Glenwood, West Virginia, folk artist Earl Gray, who sculpted a series of faces into the giant rocks along the trail, in the creek and up on the hills above the trail.
For geocachers, don’t forget to look for Forest Face, a geocache hidden around one of Gray’s funky faces.
Also, don’t forget to check out the museum’s sensory trail, located near the front of the museum and which connects to the older trail system.
A map of the trail is available to view or print at www.hmoa.org/nature/nature-trails
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